Successful debut for the 2019 Tour Auto

The 28th edition of the Tour Auto started on Tuesday April 30 from the Grand Palais in Paris. For this 2019 vintage, 240 crews are competing in five stages and will put the wheels of their cars on four legendary French circuits (Dijon-Prenois, Nevers-Magny Cours, Charade, Le Mans-Bugatti) to then go back to the finish in Deauville (Calvados). 

Among the big names invited to this event organized by Peter Auto, is Ari Vatanen. The 1981 world rally champion officiates as usher in a BMW M2. 

30 years after his exploits at #DakarRally, Ari Vatanen's popularity remains intact in France. The proof today #Big palace. The Finnish pilot, ambassador #BMW, officiates as opener of the #TourAuto @optic2000. #BMWM #BMWMotorsport @BMWFrance @BMWMotorsport @Point pic.twitter.com/OOQoEZCnbu

— Tour Auto Optic 2000 (@tourauto) April 29th

Alain and Nicolas Cheers were also invited on a Alpine A110 for the second stage, between Dijon (Côte-d'Or) and Lyon (Rhône). 

Alain and Nicolas Prost are present this evening at the Parc Fermé in Dijon. They will be on the Tour Auto Optic 2000 route tomorrow towards Lyon aboard a Alpine A110 Motul (orange color). #TourAuto @Prost_official @nico_prost @motul @alpine_cars pic.twitter.com/9nlanGxPmU

— Tour Auto Optic 2000 (@tourauto) April 30th

During the closed road section, contested towards Dijon, it was the De Tomaso Pantera of Didier Sirgue who set the best time, followed by Florent Jean n°253 on a Ferrari 308 Gr IV Michelotto from 1981 and François-Xavier Entremont n°252 on another Ferrari 308 Gr IV Michelotto.

Then, during the race on the Dijon-Prenois track, the advantage returned to the No. 2 Ligier JS 251 DFV of John of B, ahead of Florent Jean and Didier Sirgue. In Regularity, two cars won first place: theAlfa Romeo Giulia TZ n°17 ​​of Claudio Scalise and the Jaguar Mk II n°80 of Christian Haas.